Euphonium.com

Back in the UK for a little brass band music
So I was INCREDIBLY excited to head back to England (and Wales) to play with my old brass band Point of Ayr in the Welsh Regional Championship. The test piece was English Heritage by George Lloyd. While there are lots tests for the principal cornet, there are plenty of other challenges for all the rest of the band and the euphonium part has loads of tricky measures. I had forgotten how challenging the brass band repertoire can be for the solo euphonium. The role it plays and the demands placed on it are intense and technically awkward. For this piece, there was not an extreme use of range like in many of the works by Sparke, Wilby, or Graham, but just more midrange curve balls. English Heritage is a very fine work and I really enjoyed playing it. I encourage you to check out the piece when you have a chance. It is a wonderful piece for sure.

It was wonderful to have David Thornton, we were at the RNCM at the same time, pick me up and think back on fun times and then I got to work with the euph students at the Chetham’s School of Music. Chet’s (as it is called) is basically a highly specialized school for students with a keen interest and very high talent in music. The building dates from the 1700’s and I think even some are older than the 1500's. It has an incredible amount of history there and really neat to teach in an REALLY concert recital hall. Amazing the age of the buildings in the UK. Makes me realize how young I am (especially when my birthday is just around the corner).

The band room in Wales and many members of Point of Ayr were as I remembered them from 8 years ago when they had me come over to play solo euph on Jazz by Philip Wilby and from when I was full time during . The smiling faces and great laughs were immediate.
One of the things about the competitions is that they are normally held in old concert halls or town halls. The one in Swansea Wales is quite old, but has a great acoustic to my ears and has a great feeling. It is a little intimidating though with all those people in the audience waiting for the slightest slip. The band had a good performance and the concentration and adrenaline was like I had not experienced since the last brass band competition…something musical, exciting and dangerous all at the same time.

I am happy to say that another great part of the trip was to meet all the new members of the band and that was great fun. Happy to say I have some excellent new friends there now. I enjoyed meeting you all and just know that wish the band continued success and hope to be back again in the future!!

Well I have a 6 AM flight to get home to go straight to a rehearsal on the new Euphonium Concerto by Libby Larsen with the Emory Wind Ensemble…let's hope the flights run on time!! Next week I will write from Peru….